McCleary H. Harper was born on August 27, 1917. He served in the 341st Bomber Squadron, 97th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17 #41-24344 'The Big Bitch' during World War II.

Sgt Harper was killed when his airplane crashed in Saint-Vougay, France. On October 21, 1942, his crew took off from Station 110 airfield in Polebrook, England, for a bombing attack in Lorient, France. Upon arrival over the target, their plane was shot down by an Fw190 piloted by Armind Landman and exploded. Among the ten crew members, only two were able to survive. The others, including Sgt Harper, were killed in the incident.

The bodies of those who were killed were initially buried in the cemetery of Plouescat before being transferred. Sgt Harper is now buried in the Clearwater Municipal Cemetery, Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net